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Beer Can Chicken Tacos

Eli Shayotovich rolls out the barbecue, and introduces a chicken to a can of Oskar Blues Pale Ale.Text And Photo By Eli Shayotovich

Regardless if it is winter or summer it’s always time to start thinking about firing up the barbeque and enjoying some beers out on the deck. And why not take that old Beer Can Chicken recipe and kick it up a notch?

Rinse chicken well and pat dry with paper towels. Combine all seasonings together in a small bowl. Rub chicken generously with olive oil inside and out. Gently lift the skin on breast and rub oil under it as well. Sprinkle seasonings inside, under skin, and outside of bird.

Slice jalapenos in half (remove seeds if you don't like it spicy). Slice onion into at least ¼ inch thick slices. Drizzle both with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Place on grill and cook for about 10 minutes until soft and charred. Remove and cover with foil.

Open the can and drink half the contents. Throwing it away is a crime in some countries. Once consumed remove the entire lid of the can with a can opener.

Place can into a BBQ can holder (you need one of these) and onto the BBQ. Place seasoned bird over can. Close the lid and cook for approximately 1 hour 15 minutes (or until done). During the cooking process rotate the bird a few times for even color.

Once done, remove and place on platter. Cover bird with a foil tent for approximately 15 minutes. While chicken is resting:

Chop up the previously BBQ’d grilled onions and peppers.

Grill the tortillas and keep warm.

Remove bird from beer can while keeping the remaining liquid in the can.

Shred all meat and place in large bowl or platter. Pour remaining beer over meat. Add the chopped onions and peppers to the meat mixture. Mix well and scoop into warmed tortillas.

Eli Shayotovich believes beer is the elixir of the gods, and when looked at properly - through beer goggles perhaps - has changed the entire course of human history. He writes about the craft beer revolution for a myriad of websites and print publications.

I’ve made beer can chicken a hundred times. Well, not actually a hundred, but you get the idea. I’ve never used a BBQ can holder but I also don’t cut the whole top of the can off either…maybe that gives the can more structural integrity. Anyhow, I just prop the thing up on the barbecue with the legs and beer can acting as the three points of the tripod. The thing looks a little goofy sitting there like that.